The saint began walking forward, every step slow. Her heels echoed against the paved ground, her waist swayed to the side like a seductive dance, her smile bright in the morning sun. If not for the location and time, anyone here that saw her normally would say she was charming.

"WOW wow wow, can you imagine my luck," she spoke, her voice sounding like a soothing song. She placed her pointing finger in her mouth. "To find the princess, the children of Argoth, and the elf that is meant to fix it all in one location, what an opportunity," she said. She pulled her finger from her mouth, and it began crackling with lightning.

"I’m sure all of you are wondering why the guards of the city or the army of the marquis has not come to your aid till now," she said, tilting her head to the side. "The answer for that is simple, we attacked the marquis yesterday and threatened to kill him today.

That pride-filled fat idiot got so scared that he took every person that he had and guarded his estate. There are no active guards in the city," she said. Her smile got even brighter as she spread her hands apart. Lightning crackled and struck the floor around her. "We have the entire city to ourselves," she said, her voice getting sharper and crazier.

"That’s not possible," Ross said. He pointed his sword. "There were guards at the gates and more when we entered the city."

"Those were not guards," Nero said.

"They were part of the cult, I should guess," Ken chipped in. "They hid in the alleys and watched us. They already anticipated and waited for us. They had everything prepared," he added.

"I see," Ross muttered. He looked at her. "You sabotaged the ship, you did all this to cage us in here so that you can take the princess and destroy the kingdom," Ross said. "I admire your planning, Sãïñt of the Red Sun, but I’d give my life first before you lay your hands on the princess," Ross said calmly.

"Hahaha." She licked her lips, the lightning around her grew a lot, and then she hugged herself with it. The bolts rushed through her body, yet she stood there giggling and smiling.

"Yeah, she is definitely crazy," Ken muttered. He turned and looked at Ross. "I think you already know that a fight is the only way out of this, but fighting them together might be an issue," Ken said, sounding confident in what he had to say.

"I’ll be taking Luna away from here, and that’s that. I have no want to protect you or anyone else, but if you have any sense of reasoning, you’d allow the princess and those two to run as well. Probably to the marquis’s estate, while you lot can hold her off until whatever can be done is done," Ken explained.

Ross, who was still looking ahead, frowned. "You really think she is that much stronger than us, kid?" he asked.

"I can feel that you all have about the same amount of mana, but there is something different about her. She is free, she is like me. My strength does not come from what training I have done or what I have learned, but rather the state of my soul and mind first.

To me, no one is above me, and for that reason I’ll go above and beyond to prove that. I don’t know what her drive is, but for sure it is greater than all of you combined," Ken said.

"Tch, where the hell are you even from, kid? Fine, take the elf, the princess, and the others. Head to the marquis. I do not know why I’m trusting you, but I can say you are a bit competent," Ross said and then shifted his stance, ready to go.

Ken turned around without saying a word. He started walking. Luna followed, and so did Leo.

"Hmmm? Are they leaving?" the sãïñt asked in a curious manner.

"Yes they are, and to touch them you must go through me," Ross replied. Then he turned to the princess. "Your Highness, leave with them now," he said.

"I will not be le—"

"I said now! Do not force my hand, Your Highness. This is no longer child’s play, and as the special bodyguard to you, I take the legal right to override your wishes for your safety." He said in a stern voice. All the knights were stunned, but they understood what needed to be done. They now listened to Ross and not the princess.

"All other knights aside from the four elites, follow the princess. Give your life for her sake until she reaches the destination.

As for the four elites, you handle all the cultists. I shall take the saint," Ross dished out orders without a single pause. Everyone now knew their roles.

The princess frowned deeply. She looked at Ross. "When we return to the capital, you will be punished for this."

"I look forward to it, Your Highness," Ross said.

Ken walked past the princess. He looked at her, Kira, and Mira. "Could you lot stop being spoilt for a minute and take your own stupid lives seriously?

There are knights dying for you to stay alive and all you have done is act up and act spoilt. Tch, brats," he said that with no filter and kept walking.

The princess was so stunned that she could not even respond. The knights surrounded them and the procession started. She gritted her teeth and was forced to run along with the rest.

"A time will come for you to get your revenge," Kira, who was beside her, said. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Unlike the two, Mira had been looking at Ken for quite a bit. She couldn’t place a finger on why she found him so very intriguing. She didn’t know what feeling was mixed with it, but she kept looking.

"You sent them away?" The saint asked and then smiled even more. "What a foolish move. Butcher, go play." Immediately those words left her mouth, the figure beside her launched into the air and landed on a roof. He bolted towards the group that was leaving.

"I’m not going to let you!"

Ross yelled and moved to attack. He leaped into the air, only for him to hear a crackle, and when he blinked, the sãïñt was already in front of him. She placed her hand on his chest and a blast of lightning exploded and threw him back.

Before the four elites could move even slightly, the cultists on the roof all leaped off and attacked.

Butcher ran free, headed for the group. Ken could hear him coming.